Obama also defended his decision to send 21,000 more US troops to Afghanistan against critics who warn of the military getting bogged down as in Vietnam. He acknowledged fierce fighting against Taliban and other insurgents leading up to Thursday’s national elections in Afghanistan after July was the bloodiest month yet for US and coalition forces.
“The insurgency in Afghanistan didn’t just happen overnight. And we won’t defeat it overnight. This will not be quick nor easy,’’ Obama said.
But, he added, “This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which Al Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans. This is not only a war worth fighting. This is fundamental to the defense of our people.’’
As to Iraq, Obama reiterated his commitment to remove all combat brigades by the end of August 2010 and to remove remaining troops from the country by the end of 2011.
Obama, in his third VFW appearance, but first as president, received hearty applause and standing ovations as he spoke at the Phoenix Convention Center to several thousand veterans, though only about two-thirds of the seats were filled. That may have been partly because he started his speech nearly an hour before it was scheduled. Aides say he was eager to get back to Washington after a four-day trip out West that was part family vacation and part business, including town hall meetings in Montana and Colorado to push his health care agenda.
Obama told the veterans that overhaul would not change how they get their medical services - and that nobody in Washington is talking about taking away or trimming their benefits. Instead, he’s instructed senior aides to work with the secretary of veterans affairs to come up with better ways to serve veterans.
Even at a time when Obama needs as much congressional support as he can summon for his health care priorities, he spared no party from his harsh critique of business-as-usual by some in the military establishment, some defense contractors, and some lawmakers who write defense budgets.
